Egypt’s former Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Bassiouny defended toppled president Hosni Mubarak’s policies regarding Israel against harsh criticism that Mubarak was too lenient toward the country.
Bassiouny, who served as Egypt’s ambassador in Tel Aviv for 20 years, emphasized that Mubarak kept peace with Israel.
Israel's friendliness toward Mubarak were due to his commitment to the peace agreement, the diplomat said.
"I never witnessed any concessions on Mubarak’s part to Israel," Bassiouny said in an interview with London Middle East newspaper published Thursday.
"I hope I would be considered an eyewitness to history. I am not a hypocrite and there is no room for hypocrisy now. Mubarak’s relations with Israeli leaders came primarily within the framework of keeping peace," he said.
Bassiouny added that bilateral relations between Egypt and Israel are different from any other diplomatic relationship between two countries.
It is in the Arab World and Egypt's best interest to maintain peace with Israel, he said.
Potential presidential candidates have criticized the peace treaty with Israel in an attempt to satisfy public opinion, Bassiouny said, but the issue must be tackled in a more serious way.
